Chapter Five

"Sit down, Colonel," Landry suggested. "Maybe it's best you hear this. I can fill you in on the missing pieces later."

"Oh General, I think I may have a few missing pieces of my own to throw in." He glared at Daniel from across the table, ignoring the two IOA representatives. "Nice of you to show up...although I'm pretty sure there was a stop you should've made before...let me guess, randomly appearing in the middle of the meeting that's dealing with the mess you and your Ancient friends made."

"Alright, Mitchell, tone it down. Besides, harassing Daniel and his terrible life choices is usually my job."

"Sorry, Jack, but-"

He waved Daniel off and took his seat again. "Yeah, time's an issue because isn't it always with you? Continue."

Cameron tried to keep up with the conversation. "Adria's case was surprisingly more straight forward. From what I've heard and the little I saw, everything went according to plan. I guess in this case, there are a few more factors to consider-"

"A success?" Cameron interrupted. "So it was your idea. Your plan."

Daniel ignored him. "There's a lot more tension where Oma is concerned and quite frankly, a few of them aren't looking to grant her a reprieve in such a big way. But it looks like we've got just about enough to intervene and once that happens, things are going to get even crazier up there. Civil war, the reason the Ori split kind of crazy."

"Can you control where the descension process takes place, Dr Jackson?" the female IOA representative asked, her companion furiously scribbling in a notepad. "Much like you did with Adria. Somewhere with a little more warning."

"Yes, I think so. But we're talking about something going down in...I guess when you try and compare it to time on Earth, possibly a matter of hours. I wouldn't risk it here-"

"Although risking it with Adria seemed like a good idea at the time, did it?"

Daniel ignored him again.

"The Tok'ra," Landry interrupted. "They have the technology to deal with things if they don't go according to plan. We'll send backup."

"That could work," O'Neill agreed. "We can divert the Hammond that way too, they were already in the area scouting a planet with an Alliance contact."

Daniel gave a slight smile. "That's all I can give you, I'm afraid. I wish I could stay longer but the process is very time-consuming and difficult."

Cameron still had no idea what was going on but before he knew it, everyone was standing and he knew the meeting had probably ended.

"Woah, woah—you're not leaving right now are you?"

Daniel at least had the decency to look chastised. He was still getting used to seeing him without his glasses. Cameron kinda wished he was wearing them because he was nearly itching to punch the bastard's face without the barrier in the way.

And for a third time, Daniel Jackson ignored him. "Please take care of her Jack and tell her I'm sorry. I'm going to be back as soon as I can."

"Go. We've got this. You just keep your end of the bargain and get your ass into gear."

The IOA representatives bristled at the crass language.

"Wait-!"

A great light shone and then Daniel was no more. "Where the hell did he go? Jackson! Get your ass back here now!" Cameron shouted at the empty space. "General—what the hell is going on?"

"You're going to have to excuse us, there a few preparations we're going to have to make," Landry gestured to the IOA. "And I'm sure you're going to want to send a few people of your own—we all know how fun and in no way counter-productive that will be. Excuse me."

Cameron followed his two superiors into Landy's office and General O'Neill shut the door behind him. "Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on? He's gone for weeks and suddenly shows up with some do-or-die mission and story about, what, the Ancients are at civil war? And since when did they give a second thought to what we're doing here and now we're supposed to help them?"

"Sit down before you give yourself a hernia, Mitchell, for crying out loud!"

"Dr Jackson came back to give us some intel and information about where he's been. He was here for about an hour before you came rushing in. Looks like Ms Mal Doran was right—Daniel was responsible for Adria's current condition."

"Well, Daniel and dozens of other Ancients. Allies, we're told," O'Neill added. "He spent a long time absolving our little ex-Orici, which went a long way in convincing the IOA that she's not a threat. He also spent an equal amount of time talking about what those crazy kids up there are planning on doing next."

"Which is?"

Landry sighed. "They're planning on descending Anubis. Which, as Daniel describes, is somehow going to be worst and more dangerous than descending the damn Orici."

Cameron tried to ignore flashes of going down over Antarctica and the horrors of learning to walk again. "They're bringing back Anubis? What the hell is wrong with those people!"

O'Neill shook a finger. "Beings, Mitchell. People are generally likeable. But the way Daniel has it figured, he's supposed to come back without his powers. So no half-descended, no face looking crazy Goa'uld."

"But maybe a regular, garden-variety one," Cameron finished.

"Exactly. Honestly, they're not expecting either the symbiote or the host to survive. Adria got lucky. If she had a snake in her head she probably wouldn't be here either."

Cameron shook his head. "Unbelievable. And after that, let me guess, chaos and weird higher being war commences, keeping our valiant Dr Jackson in his favourite role as chief Ancient diplomat."

"Something to that effect, yes," Landry supplied. "Colonel, I want you to take SG-3 and 17 with you to visit the Tok'ra and brief them. And after this is done we'll be making our final decision about what to do with Adria. You should let Ms Mal Doran know."

Cameron sighed. "I will let her know before we leave, but in all honesty, that's actually why I busted in here earlier. She won't be accompanying us to visit the Tok'ra. In fact, she's pretty adamant that whatever happens, she isn't going to be leaving Adria's side."

Landy sighed again. "We're aware of that, Colonel. And we don't want to lose her, but I have a feeling our hands are going to be tied."

"I'm just asking if you can do what you can to keep her at the base, General. She's—there's a special place in hell for people that tattle on their friends—sirs, Vala's pregnant."

There was silence in the room. "Vala is pregnant?!" O'Neill asked incredulously.

"Yep. And guess whose Baby Daddy just popped by without so much as an invisible visit. And who is going to be taking their amnesiac daughter and unborn son into the big, bad world away from the tender loving care of her friends, co-workers and very qualified physicians?"

Nobody said anything.

"We'll be ready in ten," Cameron advised and stormed out the door.